Andrei Bulatov’s film Fathers of Hockey sparked strong interest in Russia, earning widespread attention as the week’s standout new release with impressive box office numbers for its debut. Industry observers noted the film’s momentum in its opening weekend, reflecting a notable start for a cinema project exploring the world of youth sports and community pride.
Set in a small provincial town, the story follows Andrei, portrayed with quiet intensity by Aleksey Bardukov, a coach who dedicates his mornings to shaping young players on a community ice rink. His routine life is disrupted when the town’s lone ice palace, a crucial venue for training and nurturing local talent, is slated for demolition. To save the rink, the team must triumph in a local amateur hockey tournament, a high-stakes contest that brings together a squad of fathers trying to balance jobs, personal responsibilities, and their children’s dreams. The narrative uses this tournament as a lens on kinship, resilience, and the shared stakes that come with raising the next generation of players.
The Russian box office continued to reflect strong domestic trends, with a familiar title reclaiming the top spot in the charts for the fifth consecutive weekend. The film known as At the Command of Pike reported another robust haul, underscoring the enduring appeal of stories rooted in national humor, family dynamics, and the grit of everyday life in towns across the country.
In third place at home, audiences welcomed a fresh release, the French-Belgian animated feature Big Little Adventure. After a four-day window, it drew a solid turnout of families and animation fans, demonstrating the market’s appetite for global storytelling that blends humor, heart, and bright, kid-friendly animation.
Earlier this week, a Closed premiere screening took place in a Moscow cinema for Hockey Dads. Attendees included the film’s cast, celebrated hockey players, and notable industry figures, with support from prominent business leadership. The presence of influential backers highlighted a shared commitment to promoting sports-themed cinema that resonates with both athletes and wider audiences who value perseverance, teamwork, and the transformative power of sport.
Meanwhile, industry insiders have in the past discussed adaptations rooted in Russian literary heritage. There has been talk about a film project based on Bulat Okudzhava’s story The Front is Coming to Us, reflecting a trend toward revisiting classic narratives through contemporary cinema to reach new generations without losing cultural resonance or emotional depth.